{"id":15176,"date":"2020-06-10T12:31:28","date_gmt":"2020-06-10T16:31:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/720bb4d963.nxcli.net\/?page_id=15176"},"modified":"2023-09-19T12:32:35","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T16:32:35","slug":"genomics-new-treatments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.headandneck.org\/genomics-new-treatments\/","title":{"rendered":"Genomics & New Treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Genomics, Biomarkers & New Approaches to Treatment<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u200b<\/strong>Cancer is a disease that occurs when the DNA of normal cells is changed or damaged, causing uncontrolled growth of affected cells. As such, a tumor is best understood as an overgrowth of cells. Typically, cells are programmed to serve their function and to avoid development of tumors. Normal cell behaviors\u2014such as changing or differentiating, stopping growth, dying or self-destruction when damaged\u2014protect against tumor formation. Unfortunately, damaged DNA can cause mistakes in these instructions, so that the cells no longer behave as they should. When this happens, cancer can develop.<\/p>\n

Cancer genomics is a newer area of study for researchers seeking new treatment options for cancers of all types.  Cancer genomics is the study of the DNA sequence in cancer cells versus normal cells. Because cancer cells have genetic alterations, they carry a different version of your DNA than healthy cells do.<\/p>\n

DNA is a molecule that is found in every cell of an organism (a person, animal, plant, etc.) and carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of that organism. DNA tells each cell how to behave and which proteins to produce. The information contained in the DNA, including any mutations or mistakes that might occur, is copied from one generation of cells to the next.<\/p>\n

Cancer genomics also looks at gene expression to identify which genes and gene products (for example, proteins) are contributing to the growth of cancer. Gene expression, or activity, can be measured by the abundance of different RNA. RNA is a molecule that is present in all living cells and is essential for the coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. It acts as a messenger, carrying instructions from the DNA on how to make proteins. Proteins do a great variety of things within the body and can be understood as what makes each cell function. Some proteins assist the immune system in doing its work, some trigger or speed up chemical reactions, and others make up vital body structures like hair and skin. Genes can contribute to cancer growth by being too active, not active enough, or not active at all. <\/p>\n

There are several types of genetic errors that can occur in cells that become cancer.  These include DNA mutations, rearrangement of particular genes, gene deletion, or gene amplification (extra copies of a gene). These alterations can occur in a few ways: they can be inherited from your parents; caused by environmental exposure to things such as UV light, or cancer-causing substances like those in tobacco; or they can happen by accident during normal processes like cell division. The totality of genetic changes within an individual\u2019s genome are called somatic<\/em> changes. These somatic changes and the resulting genetic abnormalities are believed to account for 95% of all cancer cases. So, understanding and being able to repair or eradicate these errors becomes key to successfully treating cancer.<\/p>\n

The idea behind the study of cancer genomics is that, if we can understand what has gone wrong genetically to cause a particular cancer, then treatments can be developed to combat the DNA errors that are at fault.  Essentially, we would treat the genetic errors, rather than using treatments like radiation and chemotherapy that broadly affect an entire region of the body, including healthy tissue and cells. <\/p>\n

The current study of cancer genomics involves identifying molecules known as biomarkers. These molecules can tell us about things going on in the body that may be signs of underlying disease. Biomarkers could be DNA, gene mutations, gene rearrangements, missing genes, extra genes, proteins,  enzymes, or hormones, for example. They are produced either by the cancer itself, or by other processes in the body, like an immune response to the cancer. Cancer biomarkers are useful in predicting how the cancer will progress and, consequently, your prognosis. Biomarkers are also currently being studied as a means of identifying which treatment a specific patient\u2019s cancer is likely to respond to.<\/p>\n

If your doctor decides to examine the genomics of your particular cancer, he or she will take a sample of the tumor and send it to a lab for molecular profiling. The results will indicate which biomarkers are present and may offer clues as to which treatments are likely to be most effective, allowing for a more personalized treatment plan.<\/p>\n

HNC Genomics<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The study of head and neck cancer (HNC) genomics has, so far, revealed some useful findings that will serve as a foundation for future research. For example, we now know that HNCs associated with HPV and HNCs associated with tobacco use are molecularly distinct (different subtypes of HNC). So, what do we know so far?<\/p>\n

HPV+ Head and Neck Cancers<\/strong><\/h5>\n